Hellenic Republic Region of Office of the Regional Administrator

Ιoannina, 07/04/2015 FN 39751/35

E-mail: [email protected] To Cecilia Wikstrom, Chair of the Committee on Petitions

ΒRUSSELS

ΝΡ/Ir[ΙΡΟL-CΟΜ -PETI D(2015) 16325] (enclosure)

Subject: Meeting of the EP Committee on Petitions of 16.04.2015 on waste management in — Karvounari landfill site.

Dear Ms Wikstrom,

Further to the working document of 27.03.2014 drawn up by the EP Committee on Petitions containing the conclusions of the fact-finding mission to Greece from 18 to 20 September 2013, particularly as regards waste management (Karvounari landfill site in ) , please find attached the following:

1. The environmental quality inspection reports of 17.03.2014, 15.09.2014 and 05.03.2015 for the Epirus region and the inspection report of 10.02.2015 drawn up by the Director-General for Development Programming, Environment and Infrastructures;

2. The contract of 05.10.2012 for construction of a horizontal biogas collection network at the landfill site in the Karvounari second administrative unit of southern Thesprotia in the Epirus region - (EUR 9 800.00);

3. Confirmation of project termination (112245/11201) indicated in point 2;

4. Contract of 19.03.2013 for 'additional work' on the landfill site in the Karvounari second administrative unit of southern Thesprotia in the Epirus region (EUR 156 750.00) and

5. Confirmation of project termination (119771/12094) referred in point 4.

These measures, together with the action plan being implemented by the Epirus regional authorities in cooperation with the Karvounari landfill operator, have resolved the problems highlighted in the most recent report by the environmental quality control team, which will

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EN United in diversity EN continue to carry out environmental monitoring and inspection of the facility on a regular basis.

In addition, the Epirus regional authority has, since assuming office on 01.01.2011, given priority to environmental protection and integrated urban waste management and has accordingly taken action to:

• improve all waste disposal sites in Epirus under a systematic agreement with all the region’s municipalities;

• finalise studies, approvals, authorisations and tendering procedures; a contract for the construction in Epirus of a facility for the processing of mixed urban waste remaining after pre- separation, due to enter into service at the end of 2016, is now in the final stages of signature. It has been designed to cover all EU and national targets for the alternative disposal and recycling of biodegradable waste and the processing of preselected organic wastes;

• finalise designs, studies, approvals and authorisations for the network of nine (9) waste transhipment stations in the Epirus region, which are due to be implemented once funding is granted under the 2014-2020 NSRF;

• draw up the Regional Waste Prevention Plan;

• finalise the review of the Epirus Regional Waste Management Plan, which is due for adoption by the regional government, pursuant to Directive 2008/98/EC. It sets more ambitious targets than the national waste management programme in terms of separate collection and recycling, with 30% of organic waste to be preselected at source by 2020 and small composting facilities to operate alongside the municipal waste treatment plant;

• programme innovative measures to encourage recycling at source by developing a network of green points throughout the region, for which funding will be sought under the 2014-2020 NSRF.

This clearly reflects the real determination and effectiveness of the Epirus regional authority to get to grips with all crucial environmental issues.

We therefore consider that there are no longer any grounds for proceeding with investigations in connection with Complaint 2208/2012 regarding the operation of the Karvounari () landfill site in Thesprotia, given that waste management by the local authorities has been proceeding smoothly on a day-to-day basis and will be accompanied by systematic environmental plant monitoring. All necessary measures have been taken to achieve integrated municipal waste management in the region of Epirus.

Hoping that the matter can now be considered as closed, we remain at your disposal for any further clarifications that may be necessary.

Stamp — signature

Ioannina Deputy Regional Administrator

Responsible for Development Programming,

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Tatiana Kalogianni-Stavrou

Enclosures:

Documents 1 to 5 referred to above

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